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Morristown and Chatham brought home girls lacrosse Group championships last spring. Five of the eight North Jersey public-school sectional finalists were from Morris County: Mountain Lakes (Group 1 North), Mendham (Group 2 North), Chatham and Morris Knolls (Group 3 North), and Morristown (Group 4 North).
But that was a long time ago.
Since then, graduation, injuries, and other commitments have impacted nearly every Morris/Sussex team. Will the usual suspects continue to thrive? Or will upstarts rise?
With nothing to go on but history and paper, here's our girls lacrosse preseason Top 10.
More: 2025 Morris/Sussex girls lacrosse team-by-team preview capsules
The Gaels are building around junior midfielder Abbie Rattay (94g, 26a, 134dc), who has verbally committed to Michigan. Roxbury has shifted to the Freedom Blue, where all their opponents are from Morris and Sussex.
The Falcons' entire varsity team is back, and they added a large freshman class. Though Jefferson moved to the Morris/Sussex Independence Blue, most of the foes are the same as a year ago. Senior attack Sam Kepler (73g, 12a, 36gb, 78dc, 32ft) leads the offense.
West Morris junior twins Kate Barisonek (62g, 27a, 19gb, 13dc, 10ft) and Lauren Barisonek (20gb, 4dc, 20ft) have both committed to Louisville. With Kate on the attack and Lauren in the back, West Morris has bookends to build around. Senior Paytyn Crisp will start in goal for her second season.
The Golden Eagles can get goals from nearly everywhere, as demonstrated en route to a MCT quarterfinal and the Group 3 North final last spring. But how will Morris Knolls hold up in the back now that veteran goalie Gretchen King has graduated? Keep an eye on a trio of senior defenders: Julia Fortemps, Kaitlin Maher and Lily Pacconi.
Last spring, the Lakers endured the Stars & Stripes Blue and advanced all the way to the Group 1 final. But Mountain Lakes needs a new goalie and a new scorer, now that Emma Barkauskas (school-record 727 career saves) is off to Harvard and Kayla Plotts (197g, 78gb, 130dc) to Jacksonville. A lot will fall on senior Abby Hawes, a three-sport star who has signed with Ohio State lacrosse.
Senior midfielder Uma Kowalski, a Notre Dame signee who had 92 goals and 25 assists last spring, will lead Sparta for the fourth straight season. Keep an eye on junior attack Moira Sweeney (47g, 10a, 23gb), who was second in points a year ago.
Yes, Madison finished under .500 last spring. But the Group 1 Dodgers play in the challenging Stars & Stripes Blue, so that's easy to understand. Rutgers-bound junior Gabby Mariani (48g, 18a, 100dc, 21ft, 87gb) spun right from the Group 2 girls basketball final to lacrosse preseason. However, her strike-force partner and Madison's leading scorer a year ago, senior Hadley Holland (45g, 30a, 22dc, 15ft, 54gb) will miss this season with an ACL injury. Her twin sister and fellow Southern California signee Riley Holland will anchor the defense.
How will Mendham function without Sophia Cardella? Cardella and her record-setting 259 goals and 319 draw controls is off to the University of Florida, but Mendham stayed with Morristown and Chatham in the Stars & Stripes Red gauntlet. The Minutemen will build from the back, where senior goalie Sabrina Saunders has signed with Vermont and defender Gracie Shoulberg is signed with Notre Dame.
The Colonials captured their first triple crown – or maybe even a quadruple crown – with a tie atop the Stars & Stripes Red, the Morris County Tournament title, and Group 4 North en route to the ultimate prize. They lost just one game last spring. Why isn't Morristown starting the season at No. 1? Because the team lost six NCAA Division I lacrosse players to graduation, and the returnees have to prove themselves on the field.
Chatham took Moorestown to triple overtime to earn its third straight Group 3 title. Grace Hallahan and Ashlyn Carpenter, both now seniors, scored 54 goals apiece last spring. Hallahan, a midfielder, had the game-winning, triple-overtime goal in the Group 3 final – as well as a team-high 128 draw controls.
Also considered: Kinnelon, Mount Olive, Pequannock, Randolph
More: The last girls lacrosse Tournament of Champions was in 2022. What's needed for a comeback
Kate Barisonek, West Morris junior attack
Scarlett Claps, St. Elizabeth senior attack
Caroline Condon, Morristown junior midfielder
Claire Engelkraut, Chatham senior defender
Abby Hawes and Kaylin Oey, Mountain Lakes senior midfielders
Riley Holland, Madison senior defender
Uma Kowalski, Sparta senior midfielder
Riley Minerley and Annabella Sharkey, Randolph sophomores
Madison Mortimer, Kinnelon junior goalie
Emily Mulroony, Morris Hills senior midfielder
Abbie Rattay, Roxbury junior midfielder
Julia Swanson, Montville senior attack
Addy Walker and Lucia Nash, Morris Knolls midfielders
Regina Williams, Lenape Valley senior midfielder
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: NJ girls lacrosse: Morris/Sussex Top 10 rankings, players to watch
Continue reading...
But that was a long time ago.
Since then, graduation, injuries, and other commitments have impacted nearly every Morris/Sussex team. Will the usual suspects continue to thrive? Or will upstarts rise?
With nothing to go on but history and paper, here's our girls lacrosse preseason Top 10.
More: 2025 Morris/Sussex girls lacrosse team-by-team preview capsules
10. Roxbury
The Gaels are building around junior midfielder Abbie Rattay (94g, 26a, 134dc), who has verbally committed to Michigan. Roxbury has shifted to the Freedom Blue, where all their opponents are from Morris and Sussex.
9. Jefferson
The Falcons' entire varsity team is back, and they added a large freshman class. Though Jefferson moved to the Morris/Sussex Independence Blue, most of the foes are the same as a year ago. Senior attack Sam Kepler (73g, 12a, 36gb, 78dc, 32ft) leads the offense.
8. West Morris
West Morris junior twins Kate Barisonek (62g, 27a, 19gb, 13dc, 10ft) and Lauren Barisonek (20gb, 4dc, 20ft) have both committed to Louisville. With Kate on the attack and Lauren in the back, West Morris has bookends to build around. Senior Paytyn Crisp will start in goal for her second season.
7. Morris Knolls
The Golden Eagles can get goals from nearly everywhere, as demonstrated en route to a MCT quarterfinal and the Group 3 North final last spring. But how will Morris Knolls hold up in the back now that veteran goalie Gretchen King has graduated? Keep an eye on a trio of senior defenders: Julia Fortemps, Kaitlin Maher and Lily Pacconi.
6. Mountain Lakes
Last spring, the Lakers endured the Stars & Stripes Blue and advanced all the way to the Group 1 final. But Mountain Lakes needs a new goalie and a new scorer, now that Emma Barkauskas (school-record 727 career saves) is off to Harvard and Kayla Plotts (197g, 78gb, 130dc) to Jacksonville. A lot will fall on senior Abby Hawes, a three-sport star who has signed with Ohio State lacrosse.
5. Sparta
Senior midfielder Uma Kowalski, a Notre Dame signee who had 92 goals and 25 assists last spring, will lead Sparta for the fourth straight season. Keep an eye on junior attack Moira Sweeney (47g, 10a, 23gb), who was second in points a year ago.
4. Madison
Yes, Madison finished under .500 last spring. But the Group 1 Dodgers play in the challenging Stars & Stripes Blue, so that's easy to understand. Rutgers-bound junior Gabby Mariani (48g, 18a, 100dc, 21ft, 87gb) spun right from the Group 2 girls basketball final to lacrosse preseason. However, her strike-force partner and Madison's leading scorer a year ago, senior Hadley Holland (45g, 30a, 22dc, 15ft, 54gb) will miss this season with an ACL injury. Her twin sister and fellow Southern California signee Riley Holland will anchor the defense.
3. Mendham
How will Mendham function without Sophia Cardella? Cardella and her record-setting 259 goals and 319 draw controls is off to the University of Florida, but Mendham stayed with Morristown and Chatham in the Stars & Stripes Red gauntlet. The Minutemen will build from the back, where senior goalie Sabrina Saunders has signed with Vermont and defender Gracie Shoulberg is signed with Notre Dame.
2. Morristown
The Colonials captured their first triple crown – or maybe even a quadruple crown – with a tie atop the Stars & Stripes Red, the Morris County Tournament title, and Group 4 North en route to the ultimate prize. They lost just one game last spring. Why isn't Morristown starting the season at No. 1? Because the team lost six NCAA Division I lacrosse players to graduation, and the returnees have to prove themselves on the field.
1. Chatham
Chatham took Moorestown to triple overtime to earn its third straight Group 3 title. Grace Hallahan and Ashlyn Carpenter, both now seniors, scored 54 goals apiece last spring. Hallahan, a midfielder, had the game-winning, triple-overtime goal in the Group 3 final – as well as a team-high 128 draw controls.
Also considered: Kinnelon, Mount Olive, Pequannock, Randolph
More: The last girls lacrosse Tournament of Champions was in 2022. What's needed for a comeback
Morris/Sussex Girls Lacrosse Players to Watch
Kate Barisonek, West Morris junior attack
Scarlett Claps, St. Elizabeth senior attack
Caroline Condon, Morristown junior midfielder
Claire Engelkraut, Chatham senior defender
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Abby Hawes and Kaylin Oey, Mountain Lakes senior midfielders
Riley Holland, Madison senior defender
Uma Kowalski, Sparta senior midfielder
Riley Minerley and Annabella Sharkey, Randolph sophomores
Madison Mortimer, Kinnelon junior goalie
Emily Mulroony, Morris Hills senior midfielder
Abbie Rattay, Roxbury junior midfielder
Julia Swanson, Montville senior attack
Addy Walker and Lucia Nash, Morris Knolls midfielders
Regina Williams, Lenape Valley senior midfielder
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: NJ girls lacrosse: Morris/Sussex Top 10 rankings, players to watch
Continue reading...
